Our dogs come from a variety of sources. Most dogs come to us directly as owner surrenders, some come from shelters or animal control as strays, while others are left there by owners. Other times dogs come from a puppy mill that has closed or is no longer interested in the breed or the dog in question.

HRI is a very pro-active group. We work hard to rehabilitate, evaluate and re-home our Havs in rescue. We are the advocates for our dogs, with our focus on the health, welfare and happiness of the dogs we serve.

 

There are many blessings for people as well. Sometimes it's watching a family discover a new family member. Other times it's helping someone who must give up a beloved family member because of a change in his or her life circumstances. People benefit because the attention is given to do the right thing for the Havanese in question.

We have found that the decision to give up their Havanese is not an easy one for any of the families with whom we have worked. It's often a process that began long before we were contacted. We do try to help people look for other options, but sometimes an owner sees the best choice as surrender.

Some Havanese come to us because there was not a good match between the owner and the dog. Havanese are very sociable and their need for companionship is more than some families anticipate.

Havanese require regular grooming. Some families find they were not prepared for the time and expense this entails.

Havanese are slow to mature and can take a long while to reliably house train. If a family has irregular or extended hours away from home, this exacerbates the problem.

Sometimes families go through changes such as divorce, death, serious illness of one of the family members or even the sudden arrival of several children that expend the family's resources, including time. The Havanese may not respond well to these situations or the owners may not find themselves able to provide the care they need for themselves and their family as well as their Havanese. These decisions are always difficult for the family involved.

Expenses can also play a part in the decision to give up a dog. Some Havanese require regular medication or medical attention either because of their age or illness.